Why manual mode?

[lehill]

Cameras and I go back several decades. I just do a lot of camera stuff automatically without even thinking about it.

Sometimes I have a hard time understanding the perspective of a beginner photographer. Like just what is this fascination many beginners have with manual mode? I've seen some here that have no idea of the exposure triangle and just blindly spin dials hoping the resulting photo isn't cr@p. "Exposure meter? What's that?"

Don't get me wrong, I use manual mode when appropriate, typically for me when I use a flash. Manual mode can also aid the beginner's education when used in a systematic way.

So why does that big "M" hold such a fascination with a beginner? Did someone tell them the photos are better or something?

 

[AlbertTheLazy]

It's a question I ask regularly.

I don't know if it triggered your OP but today I saw a post from a guy who couldn't grasp why 'sunny 16' doesn't apply in thick woodland shade but who was determined to shoot in 'manual' using a light meter app on his smart phone.

Why, in the name of whatever god you pray to? WHY??????

 

[Mark S Abeln]

I wonder if there is a popular photo book, or a highly-ranked website which offers that advice. I see beginners having M-mode problems here frequently, and that isn't advice that's given much on dpreview.

 

[Ysarex]

I wonder if there is a popular photo book, or a highly-ranked website which offers that advice. I see beginners having M-mode problems here frequently, and that isn't advice that's given much on dpreview.

 

[Mystery member]

Sometimes I have a hard time understanding the perspective of a beginner photographer. Like just what is this fascination many beginners have with manual mode? I've seen some here that have no idea of the exposure triangle and just blindly spin dials hoping the resulting photo isn't cr@p. "Exposure meter? What's that?"

Don't get me wrong, I use manual mode when appropriate, typically for me when I use a flash. Manual mode can also aid the beginner's education when used in a systematic way.

So why does that big "M" hold such a fascination with a beginner? Did someone tell them the photos are better or something?

Yes, it sure is a strange business, and the beginner misunderstandings are accompanied by a certain arrogance "What would Nikon/Canon/Sony know about camera settings"?

The so-called "exposure triangle" is perhaps the most misleading learning aid that I've ever seen, as it doesn't say anything more than there are three parameters to be juggled, without giving any guidance to how this is to be achieved. I don't see why random settings in manual mode would be of any instructive value to a beginner.

If we stay away from "low light situations" (another beginner obsession), ISO can be ignored, and there are just two parameters to be handled. Any reasonably intelligent person should be able to handle that, and the associated rules of thumb should take only a few minutes to absorb. (P mode is handy for demonstrating the balance between Aperture & SS).

I guess that some people like to appear "highly skilled" by dial-twiddling, but unless the exposure meter on the camera isn't working, even in manual mode you are relying on the camera for guidance.

I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with using manual mode, and there are cases where predetermined settings have to be used, but beginners don't need to tackle these situations first off (e.g. astro, studio etc.).

 

[BBbuilder467]

I wonder if there is a popular photo book, or a highly-ranked website which offers that advice. I see beginners having M-mode problems here frequently, and that isn't advice that's given much on dpreview.

 

[Halina123]

I wonder if there is a popular photo book, or a highly-ranked website which offers that advice. I see beginners having M-mode problems here frequently, and that isn't advice that's given much on dpreview.

--
http://therefractedlight.blogspot.com

Yep, Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. Heaven help the poor beginner who steps in that mess.

Yes. You are correct, I haven't read the book but I've just had a look at it's reviews on the internet. And there are several references to the book recommending more manual than auto use.

Unfortunately full manual mode is only suitable for people who know exactly what they are doing and have the time.

I believe another reason why beginners try manual is a reaction to the increasing full auto world. This gives them a chance to take control and not accept the settings that some computer generates.

I personally prefer a part auto camera. With an easy way of overriding the settings as soon as I disagree with what the camera is setting. In other words the standard full program, A priority, S priority, and I decide which mode to use. And when.

 

[stevejenn]

For flash use, landscape, macro and BIF.

Those starting out in photography were mainly told to use manual mode to get a feel for the relationship between A, S, and ISO. If that was a good or bad idea or not, I don't know. They do need to understand the relationship.

I always shot BIF using AV mode, adjusted the ISO to a desired SS, with some EC when needed.

With my 7D MKII I find manual mode quite pleasing for BIF. Set my SS, set AV, set Auto ISO and some EC when needed. Works really well. I know, not true manual, but SS and AV are locked.


A couple from today.









Steve J

 

[yardcoyote]

I used manual mode on my film SLR because, guess what, there wasn't anything else. And even then that great big viewfinder and its great big match needle meter made it way easier than trying to do the same with a modern camera.

Today i'm happy as a clam with either plain old aperture priority or manual plus auto ISO, which I think is the greatest thing since sliced bread, especially when you can set custom ranges for the ISO to play in.

 

[csiluk]

It's a question I ask regularly.

I don't know if it triggered your OP but today I saw a post from a guy who couldn't grasp why 'sunny 16' doesn't apply in thick woodland shade but who was determined to shoot in 'manual' using a light meter app on his smart phone.

Why, in the name of whatever god you pray to? WHY??????

 

[CptAmerica]

Cameras and I go back several decades. I just do a lot of camera stuff automatically without even thinking about it.

Sometimes I have a hard time understanding the perspective of a beginner photographer. Like just what is this fascination many beginners have with manual mode? I've seen some here that have no idea of the exposure triangle and just blindly spin dials hoping the resulting photo isn't cr@p. "Exposure meter? What's that?"

Don't get me wrong, I use manual mode when appropriate, typically for me when I use a flash. Manual mode can also aid the beginner's education when used in a systematic way.

So why does that big "M" hold such a fascination with a beginner? Did someone tell them the photos are better or something?

 

[Halina123]

It's a question I ask regularly.

I don't know if it triggered your OP but today I saw a post from a guy who couldn't grasp why 'sunny 16' doesn't apply in thick woodland shade but who was determined to shoot in 'manual' using a light meter app on his smart phone.

Why, in the name of whatever god you pray to? WHY??????

--
Albert
(The one in France)
Every photograph is an abstraction from reality.

You should have been able to hear me laugh when I read this

And then when it comes time to take a shot of the moon, they are stumped !

My other favourite was a beginner shooting a landscape with a standard lens with an iSO 12800 and shutter speed 1/3200 sec and asking why the quality was poor.

 

[csiluk]

It's a question I ask regularly.

I don't know if it triggered your OP but today I saw a post from a guy who couldn't grasp why 'sunny 16' doesn't apply in thick woodland shade but who was determined to shoot in 'manual' using a light meter app on his smart phone.

Why, in the name of whatever god you pray to? WHY??????

 

[Mark B.]

Cameras and I go back several decades. I just do a lot of camera stuff automatically without even thinking about it.

Sometimes I have a hard time understanding the perspective of a beginner photographer. Like just what is this fascination many beginners have with manual mode? I've seen some here that have no idea of the exposure triangle and just blindly spin dials hoping the resulting photo isn't cr@p. "Exposure meter? What's that?"

Don't get me wrong, I use manual mode when appropriate, typically for me when I use a flash. Manual mode can also aid the beginner's education when used in a systematic way.

So why does that big "M" hold such a fascination with a beginner? Did someone tell them the photos are better or something?

 

[sshoihet]

I wonder if there is a popular photo book, or a highly-ranked website which offers that advice. I see beginners having M-mode problems here frequently, and that isn't advice that's given much on dpreview.

 

[thebustos]

Unfortunately full manual mode is only suitable for people who know exactly what they are doing and have the time.

I think statements like this are part of what drives beginners to think that manual mode is the holy grail of understanding. I don't disagree with it, but beginners usually lack the context to know why that would be true.

 

[mostlyboringphotog]

Cameras and I go back several decades. I just do a lot of camera stuff automatically without even thinking about it.

Sometimes I have a hard time understanding the perspective of a beginner photographer. Like just what is this fascination many beginners have with manual mode? I've seen some here that have no idea of the exposure triangle and just blindly spin dials hoping the resulting photo isn't cr@p. "Exposure meter? What's that?"

Don't get me wrong, I use manual mode when appropriate, typically for me when I use a flash. Manual mode can also aid the beginner's education when used in a systematic way.

So why does that big "M" hold such a fascination with a beginner? Did someone tell them the photos are better or something?

 

[Mystery member]

Cameras are pretty good even in full auto now, usually better than the skills of anyone that would be using that mode. My goal is to shoot photographs, not spend time playing with my camera... I'm going to use all the automation I can to do that as quickly as easily as I can. The more you have to concentrate on the camera, the less you can concentrate on seeing. I want the camera to be as seamless as possible, so I can use my brain to focus on seeing the scene.

That's exactly right.

I used the Sony a5100 as a travel camera for a while. Shooting Manual with that camera is not convenient, and all that I needed was Aperture priority and a little EC.

My son now uses the a5100, and he's found that "Superior Auto" meets his needs quite well. In that mode, there's a readily accessible control called "Brightness", and assume that this is EC with ISO adjustment included as necessary. Selecting the flash also changes the settings appropriately.

My son's results on "full auto" are very good indeed, and in retrospect, I wish that I had used that mode myself, as the "Brightness" setting is a little easier to see than the EC display, since there is no EVF.

 

[Dan Marchant]

So why does that big "M" hold such a fascination with a beginner? Did someone tell them the photos are better or something?

 

[lehill]

Cameras and I go back several decades. I just do a lot of camera stuff automatically without even thinking about it.

Sometimes I have a hard time understanding the perspective of a beginner photographer. Like just what is this fascination many beginners have with manual mode? I've seen some here that have no idea of the exposure triangle and just blindly spin dials hoping the resulting photo isn't cr@p. "Exposure meter? What's that?"

Don't get me wrong, I use manual mode when appropriate, typically for me when I use a flash. Manual mode can also aid the beginner's education when used in a systematic way.

So why does that big "M" hold such a fascination with a beginner? Did someone tell them the photos are better or something?

--
Lance H

I don't know of any beginners that are "fascinated" with manual mode. Having said that, I have been shooting for 20 years, and I use manual mode all the time. Why do you think it's a beginner thing?

Manual is fine for the experienced user such as yourself or for a beginner under structured conditions (class room, guided by a book, friend, hubby, or some other systematic way).

Often enough, we see beginners here, without guidance, randomly wandering around manual mode producing bad photos. They get frustrated, that's bad. I'm just wondering why they thought going to manual mode without any help at all was a good idea.

--
Lance H